Can opener



Oct. 19', 1926. 1,603,609

T. A. KILLMAN ET AL CAN OPENER Original Filed April 1923 INVENTORS ATTORNEY.

1., time li s THOMAS A. KILLI/IAN AND SEWELL DAVIS, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND IVZESNTE AEiSIGrNI/EENTS, T PGLLY VJIGrGIN INC OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OLE DELAWARE.

CAN OPENER.

Appfication filed. April 23, 1923, Serial Our invention relates to improvements in can openers and one object is the provision of a device which can be operated with ease and rapidity by any one to remove the entire top of the can to allow instant discharge of the entire contents of the can.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a can opener which in addition to removing the entire top of the can to allow discharge of the whole bulk or contents ot the can and insure a saving of a portion 01' such contents, will be oi? sucl simple, cheap and durable construction as to make its use a practical necessity.

To attain the desired objects, our invention consists of a can opener embodying novel features of construction and combina tion of parts, substantially as described and defined by the claims, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevationot our can opener, the parts being in the position they occupy before the cutting operation begins.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts in the position they assume during the opening or cutting action. I

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the can and device, showing the path or slit.

Fig. 4- is an end View of the can open, with can in elevation.

Figs. 5 and (i are detail views of important parts of our can opener.

Our invention consists of a rod 1, which has a curved point 2, at one end while the other end is bent or formed into a handleloop or link 3. Located on the rod 1, is a clip or bracket 4-. of the form shown and adapted to slide loosely on said rod. The handle-looped end 3, ot the rod 1, terms the lower handle of this device which operates somewhat like a pair oi pliers or tongs. 'llhe upper-handle 5, is formed from a rectangular piece of sheet metal, and is bent longitudinally into the form of an inverted ll-shape. This upper handle 5 is connected at the lower edge of one end to a jaw 6, by means of th rivets 7 and 8. The jaw 6 has an extension 9, in the form of a stud on which is located a small roller 10, which is adapted to revolve freely on said stud. 'this jaw and upper handle are hinged or pivoted to the lower end 11, oil? the clip or bracket 4, by means of the bolt 13, which No. 633,912. Renewed January 5, 1926.

passes through a hole in the jaw 6. and also through the ears 11 and 12, which form hearings for the ends or said bolt. The upper Ushaped handle 5, is adaptedto house or enclose the lower looped handle 3. Located on the rod 1, and in the clip 4C, is arotary cutter 14, which has a. blade 15, in the form 01 a circular disc which is connected to a hub 16, on which is a flange 17. This flange terms a groove 18, between it and the blade 15. When in operation, this groove 18, its over the rim of the can and acts as a guide to hold the cutter in proper relation to the rim of the can.

Connected to the lower handle 3, is a flat spring 19, which extends up into the upper handle 5., as shown in (Fig. 1). The object of this spring is to hold the handles 3, and 5, normally in open relation to each other so that the device can be easily applied to or removed from the can.

The operation is as 1EOllOWSZ-Tl1G curved point 2 is inserted at the center into the head of the can. Then the cutter is adjusted so that the blade its just inside of the rim 20, and rests on the head of the can. While in this position, the small roller is located directlv under the rim ofthe can. Then by a grip of the hand on the handles 3, and 5, they are brought together which forces the roller 1011p against the under side of the rim 20, and by a counter force the blade 15 is driven down through the head 01 the can, while the rim is forced up into the groove 18, which forms a guide that holds the cutter in fined relation to the rim of the can and causes the blade to cut or shear the head just inside the rim as shown in Fig. 2. then the can is held by one hand while, with the other, the opener is swept around the head of the can, the roller 10 rolling around under the rim while the blade cuts the head out close up to the rim.

It will be noted that the handles 3 and 5 operate after the manner of a pair of scissors in bringing the roller 10 and cutter or blade 15 in operative position, thus holding the roller and cutter in the best possible position, and this forms a most imortant teature of our invention.

W hen the operation is complete the grip is released on the handles 3 and 5, when the spring 19 torces them to the open position so that the device can easily be removed from the can, the curved point 2 lifting the severed top out.

c claim:

1. A can opener consisting of a rod or member having a pointed inner end to enter the top of the can, a member pivoted to said member and carrying means at its inner end to engage the under side of the can top, and a. cutting member rotatable on said rod and arranged above said top engaging means for cutting the top of the can, the outer ends of said pivoted member and cutter carrying member acting as handles to bring the parts into proper operative position.

2. A can opener, consisting of a rod or member having a pointed inner end to pierce the can top and form the pivot for said memher, a member pivoted to said rod, a wheel at the inner end of said pivoted member to engage the underface of the can top, a retary cutter mounted on the rod and above said roller for cutting the can top, and means for retaining and guiding said cutter, the outer ends of said pivoted member and cut ter carrying member acting as handles to bring the parts into proper operative position.

3. A can opener, consisting of a rod or member having a pointed inner end to pierce the can top and form the pivot for said member, a member pivoted to said rod, a. wheel at the inner end of said pivoted member to engage the under face of the can top,

a rotary cutter mounted on the rod and rotation about the point of attachment. a

member rotatable and longitudinally shiftable upon said section including a cutter disi: and means engaging the rim of the can for holding the cutter disk in fiXGfl relation thereto, and a yoke carried by the other of said sections engaging the first named sec tion at opposite ends of said member for maintaining the member in fixed relation to the inner end of such other section.

5. A can opener consisting of a rod having a pointed end to enter the top of the can, a pivoted member operatively connected with and rotatably adjustable along said rod and carrying means at its inner end to engage theunder side of a can top, and a. cutting member rotatable on said rod and arranged on said top engaging means for cutting the top of the can, the connection between said pivoted member and the rod including a partmaintaining said cutting member in lined relation to the path of movement of said top engaging means.

6. A can opener consisting of a rod having a pointed inner end to enter the top of the can, a pivoted member operatively connectcd with and longitudinally adjustable along said rod and carrying means at its inner end to engage the under side of a can top and a cutting member rotatable on said rod and arranged above said top engaging means for cutting the top of the can.

7. A can opener comprising a member having a piercing prong adapted to enter the center of a can end, a carriage on said member, a roller operatively associated with said carriage, said roller being adapted to engage a. portion of a can, a second roller mov ably and operatively mounted with respect to said carriage, and means to move said rollers relatively into-close proximity with reference to each other, one of said rollers having a cutting edge.

8. In a. can opener, an elongated member having a pivotal point to enter the top of a can, a second member mounted upon said elongated member, adjustable to and from said point and having a roller mountedthereon to engage the flange of a can, a second roller mounted upon one of said members, one of said rollers having a cutting edge, and means for moving one roller relatively to the other to force the cutting de vice through the can.

9. A can opener comprising a member having a piercing prong adapted to enter the center of a can end, a carriage on said member, a roller operatively associated with said carriage, and adapted to engage a portion of a can, a second roller movably and operatively mounted with respect to said carriage and a lever pivoted to the carriage to move said rollers into close proximity with relation to each other, one of said rollers having a cutting edge.

10. In a can opener, an elongated member having a pivotal point to enter the top of a can, a second member mounted upon said elongated member. adjustable to and from said point and having a roller mounted thereon to engage the flange of a can, a second roller mounted upon one of said members, one of said rollers being a cutting device and a lever pivoted to the second member tor moving one of said rollers relatively to the other to force the cutting device through the can.

11. A can opener comprising a member having a piercingprong adapted to enter the center of a can end, a carriage shittable upon the member. a roller carried by the carriage and rotatable about a pivot fixed with relation to the carriage. a second roller ogeratively associated with the carriage and rotatable about a pivot shiftable With relation to the carriage and toward and away from the pivot of the lirst named roller and a lever for moving the last named roller into proximity to the first named roller, one of the rollers having a cutting edge.

12. A can opener comprising a member having a piercing prong adapted to enter the center of a can end a carriage on said member, a roller moving With the carriage and rotatable about a pivot fixed with relation to the carriage, a member movable upon the carriage and having a second roller at one end thereof and means for shifting the member to bring the roller thereof into 15 THOMAS A. KILLMAN. SEWELL DAVIS. 

